[C1] One dim headlight
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 38
From: Morristown MN
One dim headlight
On a road trip this past fall, a bouncing rock zeroed in on my '62 and directly nailed my left side low beam headlight. As you can imagine, I was quite pleased that it hit the headlight and not the body! I picked up a couple new headlights and decided to replace them last night. After installation I noticed the left side was dimmer than the right side. Swapping the right side (brighter) bulb to the left side, it was as dim as the other one. Thinking it was maybe a corroded connection, I cleaned the terminals but experienced no change. Although I seldom drive the car at night I have considered the relay upgrade in the past (and now may be the time) but I'd still like to know if there is a way to diagnose the dimmer left side before moving forward.
Any thoughts?
Mike
Any thoughts?
Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,749
Likes: 776
From: Dadeville AL
If it were mine, I'd get out the multimeter and some jumper wires. Connect one jumper to a known, good ground and another to the powered connection to the headlight. Use the multimeter to measure the voltage between the two jumper wires. Repeat for the other headlight and compare the voltages. If the dim one is lower, I'd start moving back along the wiring harness on that side until the voltage read higher. That would identify the stretch of harness with the problem. .... If the initial test showed the voltages were about the same, I'd use the multimeter to measure the resistance in the ground wire serving the dim headlight. If it is high, then a bad connection in the ground circuit is the problem.
Last edited by kellsdad; Dec 8, 2018 at 11:14 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 17,571
Likes: 3,460
From: Fresno California
What these guys said. You have excessive resistance in the circuit or a bad ground. You will need a multimeter to check it out. The headlamps run off of full system voltage (12.6-14.5).
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 38
From: Morristown MN
Thanks, all. Will do. And since I just received the "brake attention module" I recently ordered (one of those gizmos that permits the brake lights to flash rapidly before becoming full-on) it looks like I will be spending some time working through some electrical projects.
I appreciate the suggestions.
Mike
I appreciate the suggestions.
Mike
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 38
From: Morristown MN
Finally getting some shop time...wired in the brake light flasher last night. Very simple and clean installation. Really like the results and hope it will attract attention while stopping. Highly recommended!
With 14.3 volts at the headlight connector, with Frankie's help I resolved the dim headlight problem. The ground source on the horn relay was corroded. After cleaning it up I now have two bright dim headlights. Thanks to all for the recommendations.
Mike
With 14.3 volts at the headlight connector, with Frankie's help I resolved the dim headlight problem. The ground source on the horn relay was corroded. After cleaning it up I now have two bright dim headlights. Thanks to all for the recommendations.
Mike
Bad ground .
